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If you live in the Triangle, in a neighborhood with lots of trees, you have probably heard the wonderful choruses of katydids in the evenings. They start singing when it gets dark. They sing far up in the trees, and sound like loud rattles. Supposedly they are saying "Katy did, Katy didn't." The men are calling to the ladies, and the ladies are responding.
They look like a cross between a grasshopper and a leaf. They are bright green. But we rarely see the katydids, because they like to stay high in the trees.
They are not related to the cicadas that sing in the day. Cicadas live most of their lives as grubs under ground. Katydids live their whole lives in the trees, eating leaves. They are related to grasshoppers and crickets.
They look like leaves to to camouflage themselves from their predators, mostly birds.
The katydids that are singing now are the "true katydids." Later in the summer we will hear the angle-wing katydids. Their song is a series of about fifteen rapid clicks. They are larger and rarer than the true katydids.
Sometimes, when I visit Manhattan or downtown Washington, D.C., I wish I lived in such a happening spot. But then I wouldn't hear the katydids!
Thanks so much for the thoughtful post! My husband and I always wonder about them as we walk or run by them at night! Quite loud they are! Just another reason I love it here.
I remember well the hot summer nights in the 50's and 60's sleeping with our windows opened. We grew up under a large grove of white oaks, and the trees were loaded with Katydids in the summer. The sound was sometimes deafening, but we somehow didn't find it very hard to fall asleep. It doesn't get anymore like summertime in the south than the sound of the Katydids. Nice post
As always MrBrown, you have warmed our hearts and educated our minds.
When I grew up in Eastern NC we did not have AC . I have fond memories of laying in bed being lulled to sleep by the Katydids over the hum of the window fan. Thanks for reminding me! I think it's time to set up the tent in the backyard so the kids can experience this true Southern treat.
If so, we got a lot of them cuz they sure do make a lot of noise. Much different from the crickets I grew accustomed to on the west coast. However, after several years of living here, I rarely notice the sound unless I catch them right when they start up.
By the way, no Katydids were harmed in the production of that photograph.
Oh my.
Thanks so much for this post. I've been lurking for the most part (DH and I are moving back to the South as I apply to grad school). I grew up in SC and had completely forgotten about the click-hum of katydids and grasshoppers.
I went out last night around 10 o'clock listening for the Katydids. I didn't hear any around me in North Hills, but the folks inside the beltline off Lassiter Mill were getting a nice serenade. I could hear them well in the distance.
Loved your post! Caliboy, I'm pretty sure that's a Katydid.
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. I have fond memories of laying in bed being lulled to sleep by the Katydids over the hum of the window fan. Thanks for reminding me! I think it's time to set up the tent in the backyard so the kids can experience this true Southern treat. 
